Ex-school custodian admits sexual abuse of student

Dahl Rodgers of Bloomfield pleaded guilty to five charges and is expected to be sentenced to prison.

Jessica Pierce

A former Bloomfield school custodian pleaded guilty to five criminal charges Wednesday, admitting that he sexually abused a male student.

Dahl B. Rodgers, 55, of 17 Main St., Bloomfield, admitted to Judge Craig Doran in Ontario County Court that he performed oral sex on the boy and fondled him on various occasions from June 2005 to January 2006. The student was between 14 and 16 at the time, said Assistant District Attorney Jeff Taylor.

Rodgers pleaded guilty to a third-degree criminal sexual act, a charge formerly known as sodomy, as well as endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

In exchange for the plea, Rodgers is expected to be sentenced by Doran Nov. 20 to 1 1/3 to four years in state prison.

If he had been convicted of the charges by a jury, Rodgers could have faced as many as three to five years in prison for the most serious felony charge.

Taylor said the plea spared the victim from having to endure a trial.

"The victim is a brave young man, and he would have done great as a witness," Taylor said, "but it does spare the victim from having to wait a long time for a resolution."
Taylor pointed out in court that his office had the option of presenting the evidence to a grand jury had Rodgers not entered the plea.

Taylor said he believed that a grand jury could have returned an indictment accusing Rodgers of more than 30 counts of sexual abuse charges.

When Rodgers is sentenced, he is also expected to be ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, fees to register as a sex offender and $270 in court surcharges. He will also have to submit a sample of his DNA for inclusion in the state's database.

Rodgers was represented by defense attorney Robert Zimmerman.

Rodgers is free on $5,000 bail. He was arrested Aug. 20 by Ontario County sheriff's deputies and charged with the most serious, felony charge of third-degree criminal sexual act. The four additional charges were levied in court Wednesday.

Inv. Greg Shaffer said Rodgers first met the victim and later became a family friend. The contact was not forcible, he said.

Deputies were contacted by a family member, and the victim cooperated in the investigation.

Taylor said at least one of the encounters between Rodgers and the boy took place on school grounds, though he did not offer specifics.

Prior to his arrest, Rodgers sent a letter of resignation to school officials. Interim Superintendent Thomas Strining said after Rodgers' arrest that the district planned to consult with its attorney to make a formal termination.

Doran ordered Rodgers to stay away from schools, playgrounds and day-care centers. The judge also issued an order of protection barring Rodgers from any contact with the victim.

Jessica Pierce can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 250, or at jpierce@mpnewspapers.com.